Tag Archives: motivated reasoning

Priors and prejudice

Posted on June 25, 2021 by koenfucius

(featured image: Nicole Köhler/Pixabay) How open is our mind, really? A few days ago, a prominent economist posted a table on Twitter. In itself this was not a particularly remarkable event, were it not for the fact that it showed … Continue reading →

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Why does favouritism persist?

Posted on January 29, 2021 by koenfucius

(featured image: Paul Sableman/Flickr CC BY) We tend to be ambivalent towards preferential treatment – kind of OK when we benefit (or we grant it to others), but dislike it when it’s others who gain. Or is it not that … Continue reading →

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The dark side of motivation

Posted on January 15, 2021 by koenfucius

(featured image: Jesper Sehested – PlusLexia/Flickr CC BY) Motivation is what allows us to survive, prosper and reproduce – but it is also behind the worst of polarization and tribalism. We should use it with care, and engage critical thinking … Continue reading →

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I don’t care what you think

Posted on October 2, 2020 by koenfucius

(featured image: Johnny Worthington CC BY) How we think matters more than what we think and who we are From the moment we’re born, to understand the world, we rely on the judgement of others. Our parents, our siblings, our … Continue reading →

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Dissonance in human nature

Posted on January 19, 2018 by koenfucius

How do we resolve the inevitable perceived contradictions in the traits of the people around us? In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey relates how he was riding on the New York subway one Sunday morning. The … Continue reading →

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